Priti Patel orders overview of crossbow legal guidelines

Residence Secretary Priti Patel has ordered a overview of the present guidelines surrounding crossbow possession.

A Residence Workplace spokesperson stated in a press release the division has been instructed to take a look at doable methods to “strengthen controls” on the weapons.

“Crossbows are topic to controls and laws is in place to take care of those that use them as a weapon,” the spokesperson stated.

“On the Residence Secretary’s request, we’re contemplating choices to strengthen controls on crossbows. Work on this has been ongoing all year long, and we hold all related legal guidelines beneath overview to keep up public security.”

It comes after a 19-year-old man was arrested at Windsor Fortress on Christmas Day whereas allegedly in possession of a crossbow.

Metropolitan Police stated the person had been sectioned beneath the Psychological Well being Act.

Police are additionally reviewing a video which seems to indicate a masked determine in a darkish hoodie holding a crossbow and addressing the digital camera with a distorted voice, saying they needed to “assassinate the Queen” in a “revenge” mission.

In line with the Each day Telegraph, Whitehall sources stated officers had been instructed to “incorporate any classes” from the Windsor Fortress arrest right into a overview of crossbow legal guidelines which was ordered earlier this 12 months.

Underneath present laws, it’s an offence for anybody beneath 18 to buy or possess a crossbow and for anybody to promote a crossbow to somebody aged beneath 18.

Crossbows might also be thought of offensive weapons and are prohibited from being carried in a public place with out lawful authority or affordable excuse.

Calls for for tighter regulation of crossbows initially got here after the five-day inquest into the loss of life of Shane Gilmer in April.

Mr Gilmer, 30, died after his neighbour, Anthony Lawrence broke into his home in January 2018 and shot each him and his companion Laura Sugden, who survived the assault.

The coroner, Professor Paul Marks, submitted a report back to Ms Patel in Might wherein he stated he was involved there may be “no on-going management, report or licensing requirement for (crossbows)”, in contrast to firearms.

Due to this, he stated, “the police haven’t any report of who owns crossbows, how they’re saved (or) the quantity which might be in circulation.”

The coroner known as on the Authorities to overview the Crossbows Act 1987 and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, “with the intention of regulating the sale and possession of those deadly weapons”.